Process for preparing 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes

Abstract: 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes are prepared by condensation reaction of benzene or benzenes substituted with a halogen atom or atoms, a lower alkyl group or groups or a hydroxyl group or groups with hexafluoroacetone in the presence of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid. Among the 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes, 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropane and 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)hexafluoropropane are novel compounds.

Description: 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes, and more particularly to a process for preparing 2, 2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes by condensation reaction of benzene or monohalogenated benzene with hexafluoroacetone. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore, 2, 2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes as intermediates for medicines, agricultural chemicals, etc., or intermediates for synthetic rubber vulcanizing agents have been prepared by condensation reaction of benzene or substituted benzene with hexafluoroacetone in the presence of hydrofluoric acid (US-A-3 310 573). However, the condensation reaction is effective only for lower alkyl-substituted or hydroxyl-substituted benzenes, and the reaction fails to proceed in case of benzene or halogen-substituted benzenes. That is, two-stage reaction has been required for the halogen-substituted benzenes [Izv. Akad. Nauk. USSR Ser. Khim. No. 3, page 614 (1967); ibid. No.4, page 683 (1960)]. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a process for preparing 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes by condensation reaction of benzene or monohalogenated benzenes with hexafluoroacetone. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention 2, 2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes are prepared by condensation reaction of benzene or benzenes substituted with a halogen, with hexafluoroacetone in the presence of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid. Benzene or substituted benzenes such as monofluorobenzene, monochlorobenzene, monobromobenzene, and hexafluoroacetone are used usually in a molar ratio of the former to the latter of 2 : 1. In the condensation reaction gaseous hexafluoroacetone is used, and thus it is usually preferable to use a pressure vessel such as an autoclave. The condensation reaction can be also carried out by passing more than a stoichiometrical amount of hexafluoroacetone through the reaction solution while keeping the hexafluoroacetone in a gaseous state. Reaction temperature is usually in a range of 0 to 300°C, preferably 0 to 200°C. According to an actual embodiment of condensation reaction, benzene or monohalogenated benzenes and trifluoromethane sulfonic acid are charged into a reactor vessel, and then hexafluoroacetone is filled therein or passed therethrough, where usually an excess amount of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid is used so that 1.2 to 1.6 parts by mole of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid can be present per part by mole of hexafluoroacetone. Other perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids than trifluoromethane sulfonic acid can be used. After the reaction, the desired product can be recovered from the resulting reaction solution according to a conventional procedure, for example, by methylene dichloride extraction, solvent distillation. By using trifluoromethane sulfonic acid CF 3 SO 3 H as a dehydrating-condensing agent, benzene or halogenobenzenes, which has undergone no condensation reaction so far according to the conventional process, can undergo condensation reaction to produce various 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes. Substituents on phenyl groups of the resulting 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes can be further converted to other groups. For example, halogen on the phenyl groups can be converted to nitrile groups upon reaction with CuCN, and the resulting compounds can be used as raw materials for polybenzoxazole, etc. as heat-resistant resins. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be explained in detail below, referring to Examples. Example 1 3. 9g (50mM) of benzene and 4. 5g (30mM) of CF 3 SO 3 H were charged into an autoclave having a net capacity of 20ml, and then 4.2g (25mM) of hexafluoroacetone was filled therein. The autoclave was strirred for two hours while heating it at 100°C. After the end of reaction, the autoclave was cooled, and the resulting reaction mixture was poured into ice water and subjected to extraction with methylene dichloride three times. Liquid extract was washed with water three times, then washed and neutralized with an aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed from the solution by distillation, and the residues were subjected to distillation under reduced pressure, whereby 5.1g of 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropane having a boiling point of 89-90°C/3mmHg was obtained (yield: 67%). The product was analyzed. A singled peak was found at -14.2ppm (chemical shift) by 19 F-NMR and 1H peak was found at 7.06ppm, a 2H peak at 7.08ppm and a 2H peak at 7.47ppm by integral by 1 H-NMR (integrated), and the product was indentified to be the desired product. Example 2 Reaction was carried out at 100°C for 8 hours in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 4.8g (50mM) of monofluoro-benzene was used in place of benzene, whererby 4. 3g of 2, 2-bis-(p-fluorophenyl)hexafluoropropane having a boiling point of 84-85°C/4mmHg was obtained (yield: 50%). 19 F-NMR: -14.2ppm(CF 3 ), 33.9ppm(F) 1 H-NMR: 6.71ppm, 7.17ppm(aromatic nucleus H) Example 3 Reaction was carried out at 185°C for 12 hours in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 5.63g (50mM) of monochlorobenzene was used in place of benzene, whererby 7. 7g of 2, 2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)hexafluoropropane having a boiling point of 129-130°C/4mmHg and a melting point of 53-54°C was obtained (yield: 83%). Mass spectra: 372 (M + ), 353(M + -F), 337(M + -Cl), 303(M + -CF 3 ), 268(M + -Cl-CF 3 ), 248(M + -Cl-CF 3 -HF) 19 F-NMR: -13.8ppm (CF 3 ) 1 H-NMR: 7.06ppm

Claims: A process for producing 2,2-diphenylhexafluoropropanes of the formula wherein the substituents X are identical and represent hydrogen atomes or halogen atoms, which comprises subjecting benzene or monohalogenated benzene to condensation reaction with hexafluoroacetone in the presence of trifluoromethane sulfonic acid.

Inventors: IWA RIICHI, ROMANOVICH POLISHCHUK VALERII, SOLOMONOVICH GERMAN LEV, TATSU HARUYOSHI, IWA, RIICHI, ROMANOVICH, POLISHCHUK VALERII, SOLOMONOVICH, GERMAN LEV, TATSU, HARUYOSHI
Applicants: NIPPON MEKTRON KK, NIPPON MEKTRON, LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C07C22
IPC codes: C07C17, C07C39, C07C37, B01J31, C07B61, C07C22, C07C25